Carton-sealing machine.



E. G. TREMIMNE.

CARTON SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 15. 1913.

Patented June 1, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. G. TREIVIAINE.

CARTON SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION r1150 JAN. 15, 1913.

Patented June 1, 1915.

1 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

V I. I 1 I a W 111 rims E; GITREMAINE. CARTON SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-15.1913.

Patented June 1, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

knu'ewkmr Ufines sea 2 UMM$ E. G. TREIVIAINE.

CARTON SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 15. 1913.

Patented June 1, 1915.

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E. G. TREMAINE. CARTON SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN; I5. 1913.

Patented June 1, 1915.

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E. G. TREMAINE.

CARTON SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15. 1913. 1 1%1 1 M Patented June 1, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

\mmmmxm EDWARD MA NEWARK, mew JEtm aesmn'o no nnroirn'rxc OF NEW YORK.

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s egma-ne a Letters Patent.

Patented June t, W15.

Application filed January it, 1913. Serial No. 7 42,.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD G. TREMAINE, a citizenof the United States,residin at Newark, in the county of Essex and tate of New Jersey, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Carton-Sealing Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification. i i

This invention relates to improvements in carton sealing machinery.

More partlcularly it relates to machines for closing and sealing thetops of pasteboard containers.

It is especially suitable for use upon packages that have received theircharge by action of automatic filling and weighing appliances; althoughthe nature of contents, the manner of their introduction and theweighing or absence of weighing are really immaterial. In the ordinaryoperation of automatic filling and weighing machinery a package isfilled through its top, which then requires to be covered. For'coveringa square or rectangular carton four flaps are provided, one at the topof each vertical side of the carton, which the filling machine leavesprojecting outward in four directions.

It is the object of the present invention to provide mechanism forturning these flaps over upon the top and sealing them there; and tocombine this with appliances for taking the cartons singly and insuccession from 'a source of supply, subjecting them to this operationand then retaining in the machine a number of those that have beensealed so that several at once are held while the glue or other agentused is dry ing. lhe problem is complicated by the fact that cartonswhich are nominally of the same size are found to vary somewhat viding amachine which operates by first folding the front and back pair of flapsdown upon the" carton, next holding them down and meanwhile extendingthe side flaps horizontally and applying glue to their upper surfaces;next bending the side flaps successiyely through the vertical posit1onto a horizontal position where they are closed upon the other flaps,with their glued sides down; and then pressing them downward dur ng therequired period of time; all packages meanwhile traveling progress velythrough the mechanism without wait- I'ng 1n any one place for the glueto set. The last mentioned function is accomplished by makin a press ofsufficient length to acc'ommo ate a number of cartons in 11116 at once,withsections individually ad ustable, each section being large enough tooperate upon. a single carton and only a single one, and the whole groupof cartons moving forward step by step from one to another of theseindividual presses. The latter are automatically adjustable and haverecelv ng throats such that cartons of varyng heights can individuallyforce their way in, notwithstanding that the section was last occupiedby a shorter or longer carton. With this is coupledmeans to elevate ordepress the entire head of the machine carrying the mechanism that actson the tops of the packages without disconnecting it from the drivingand carton feeding appliances.

It is the object of the patent to cover in the claims whatever is newand useful in the structure disclosed.

An embodiment of the invention is 'illus trated in the accompanyingdrawings, in whieh Figure 1 is an elevati n of the front side of themachine; Fig. 2 an elevation of the left or delivery end; Fig. 3 anelevation'of the rear side; Fig. 4 an elevation in section on line H ofFig. 1, looking toward the right; Fig. 5 an elevation in section on line5-5 of Fig. 2, showing some of the upper part of the machine, enlarged;Fig. 6 an isometric drawing of a detail of the press, sectioned on line6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 an isometric drawing of certain details which areseen only in part in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 an elevation similar'to Fig. 2,showing a detail of the flexible'press on a larger scale; Fig. 9 anisometric drawing showing in diagram the steps in closing and sealmg thecarton tops; Fig. an isometric drawing of the main glue roll, andattached details;

' axis parallel to that of. the arm 24. The '60 Fig. 11 a side elevationshowing the same steps as Fig. 9 in closing and sealing the carton tops;Fig. 12 an isometric drawingshowing details of one of the cartoncarriers; Fig. 13 a diagrammatic plan of the carton conveying system,with loading and unloading apparatus; and Fig. 14 a diagrammatlc endelevation of the same, viewed from'the lcading enda In he drawings, thframe of the machine supporting P various joperating parts marked 20.Themain shaft 21, driven by pulley 23, operates the mechanism as awholein such manner that a conveyer 32 (indicated by the dot and dash lineinFig. 1) is automatically loaded (Figs. 1, 4, 13, 14) with cartons,andcarries them successively under appliances illustrated in diagram inFigs. 9 and 11, whose operation first closes each rear carton fla (Fig.1), and then closes the forward ap (Fig. 1), applies gum to the sideflaps (Figs. 1, 3, 4, 10), closes the side flaps one upon the other(Figs. '5 and 7), and presses thejglued top (Figs. 1, 7). Othermechanism then unloads the cartons singly from the carrier (Figs. 1,13), transferring thern to a flexible press seen at the left of Fig. 1and shown more in detail in Figs. 6 and 8, where each remains for acontinuous and predetermined period, while the glue is setting, and isthen discharged from the machine. Throughout its operation the machinehas a step-by-step action; and some of the operations occur while thecartons are being advanced from one step to the next, and others whilethe carton is stationary between its successive advances. The mechanismfor adjusting the elevation of these appliances to fit cartons of pressautomatically adjusts itself to small variations between cartons ofnormally equalheight is seen in detail in Figs. 1, 6 and 8. v

The mechanism by which the step-by-step action is generated andsafeguarded will first be described, followed by description of theother parts of the apparatus in approximately the order mentioned above.

The main driving shaft 21 carries an arm 24, Figs. 1 and 2,.having atits end a laterally projecting pin .ro1l25 which sweeps in a pathintersecting the circumference of an escapementwheel or disk 27, set onan path of the roll is adjacent to one face of the disk and is parallelto the plane thereof. The disk has radial slots 26 arranged atequi-distant intervals around its circumference, open at thecircumference and extending inward about half way to the center;

. and this arm and slotted disk are so located with respect to eachother that the path of the roll 25, as the roll revolves around the axis21, may enter the lperipheral end of one of these slots 26, (the ower riht hand one, n the machine represented, fi ig. 1), and then, as itproceeds in its revolution about axis 21, turns the disk around untilthe roll 25 emerges. As illustrated in the drawing, there are, fiveslots 26 in the complete circumference of the disk 27; and the throw ofthe arm 24 is such that the path of its roll 25 intersects justone-fifth part of the circumference of disk 27, thus rotating the disk27 through precisely one-fifth of a complete revolution at each completerevolution of the main driving shaft. Only one side of the slot 26 isused for the purpose described,

viz., that which is above the roll 25, and a mere succession ofabutments on the face of the disk 27 would be sufficient for the purposedescribed, without making a slot; but both walls of the slots in whichthe roll 25 engages are utilized in another part of the revolution ofdisk 27 as part of a locking device which holds the disk positivelyagainst movement in either direction except during the interval in whichthe roll 25 is traveling through that portion of its path whichintersects the disk 27 This is accomplished by means of a lug 37 whichin this instance is also a roller, and which is likewise adapted toengage in the slots 26. It is carried on the end of an oscillating arm38 that is pivoted at 39 and has a branch 40 adapted to beengaged anddepressed by the roller 25 whenever the latter is about to enter one ofthe slots 26. When not thus controlled by the roller 25 the arm 28 iscon trolled by .a spring 41 which tends to throw the lug 37 toward thecenter of the disk 27. The lug 37 is located in such position that theperipheral opening of one of the slots 26 is opposite it, whenever theroller 25 emerges from another one of those slots at the end of itsintersecting path. The result is that at that instant the spring 41throws the lug 37 into such slot 26, where it, in conjunction with itsarm 38, acts as a latch to lock the disk against rotation in eitherdirection, the lug 37 bearing against the abutment on either side of theslot 26 in the case of any tendency of the disk to move; and the partsremain locked in this position until the roll 25, having gone around itscircuit and being again about to intersect the disk 27 approaches theperipheral end of another of the slots 26. As the branch arm 40 projectsinto the path of roll 25 when the lug 37 cccupies its locking position,the roll 25 engages the branch arm 40 and gradually depresses it, until,at the moment when the roll 25 enters its slot 26, the arm 40 isdepressed so far that the lug 37 has been carried completely out fromits slot 26. The disk 27 is therefore free to rotate under influence ofittlahh the traveling roller25, which it does until the roll 25 emer es,having rotated the disk precisely one-fi th of a revolution, whichbrings another slowopposite lug 37 for locking the disk.

The disk 27 is on a shaft 28 (Fig. 2), which carries a sprocket wheel 31that drives a chain 32 having carton carriers 33. The chain passesaround an idler sprocket wheel 34, best seen in Fig. 1, from) the top ofwhich it travels toward the left, in that figure, through the middle ofthe machine with a step-by-step motion controlled by the movement ofdisk 27. At each stage of its advance one of the carriers 33 is moved toa position opposite the conveyer-loading mechanism, where a carton readyto closed and sealed is automatically placed upon it.

The loading mechanism is \controlled by a shaft 44 (Figs. 2, 3), drivenby the constantly rotating shaft 21 through beveled gears 45. Asprocket49 on this shaft, connected with sprocket 50 on the other sideof the machine by means of the horizontally extendingchain 51 (Fig. 4),drives the parallel shaft 52 which has crank arms 55, 56. The uprightlever 57, oscillated by crank 56, operates the mechanism for loading theconveyer, and the lever 58, oscillated by crank 55, that for unloadingit. The loading mechanism is seen in Figs. 4, 13 and 14, where the lever57 to which the crank 56 imparts an oscillating movement about itsbottom pivot 60 has a top pivot 61 to which the adjustable connectingrod 62 is attached, its other end being pivoted at 63 to a horizontallymoving pusher plate 64. This pusher coiiperates with the carton carriers33 and with a belt 65, Figs. 1, 3 and 14, which brings cartons to theapparatus, passing around a pulley 66. A barrier 69 arrangedtransversely to the travel of belt and of the carriers 33 is arranged onthe pusher 64 (Figs. 4, 13 and 14) on the side where the cartons areapproaching, so that cartons brought to this point by the delivery beltare stopped by this barrier until the pusher has been withdrawn to theleft, Fig. 14, after which such carton can proceed on belt 65 until itreaches an adjustable stop 70, seen best in Fig. 13, mounted on asuitablesupport 71 which is seen also in Fig. 1. This plate is to be soadjusted according to the size of the cartons on which the machine isworking, asto allow one carton at a time to come in front of the pusher64 and be subjected to its action when the pusher moves transversely. Atthe properwhich is preferably at rest at that particu' lar moment. Themovement of the pusher in a straight line is insured .by any suitablemeans. the means here illustrated being guide bar 72 sliding in bearings73.

The carton carriers are designated by the applying the operativepressure uniformly up and down the body of the carton while subjectingit to the operations to be described, and particularly applyingsufficient supporting pressure close to the top of the carton, where themain action is.

The upright portions of the carriers are rather narrow, and travelbetween rails 76, seen in Figs. 13 and 14, which are supported atsuitable height above the level of the horizontal carrier plates bybrackets 77 and which are adjustable laterally to provide a varyingspace between these rails according to varying 'widths of cartons uponwhich the machine is to operate. Thus, each carton on which the machineis operating is held on its bottom, on each side and behind, and so isfirmly seated and supported for the operations that are to be performedon its top. Guides 78 similar to the rails 76 may be attached to thestop plate 70, these being disconnected from the rails 76 in ordertoallow of endwise adjustment of the stop 70 as described.

The mechanisms for performing the Va rious operations on the tops of thecartons will now be described, the same being supported at an elevationwhich is readily adjustable to various levels above the level of thecarriers 33, so that the various devices which it carries can act uponcartons of any height for which it may be set. The manner of supportingthis mechanism, and of changing and holding its level, is as follows:Fixed standards 79 rise from the frame 20 and guide upward and downwarda movable upper frame 80 which carries the folding, closing and gluingdevices. The standards 79 carry pivots or cross shafts 82 at their topsand bell cranks 83 from which the frame 80 is suspended and by which itselevation is adjusted. These bell cranks are held in the same relationto each other by links 84 pivoted at 85 to one end of each bell crank,the other end of each bell crank having a pivot from which a link 87depends, the frame 80 being slung pivotally at 88 on the lower ends ofthese depending the cross shafts 82, all the lower ends of the- By thesehorizontal connections between the bell cranks,-viz., the links 84 anddepending linksI87 are maintained at uniform elevation; and by thevertical guides 79, on which the hangers 89 of the frame 80 rideup anddown, the movement of the frame 80 is maintained precisely verticalwithout lateral displacement in any direction. Provision is made for theconvenient adjustment of the frame 80 and the devices carried thereby inthe vertical direction by connecting each bell crank rigidly to itscross shaft 82 and by fastening on one of those shafts a worm gear 90(Figs. 1 and 2),.

when it moves forward to the barrier 70 and thence is transferred to thecarrier 33. Other cartons succeed it so that when the machine is inoperation each of the carriers 33 has a carton, and the variousoperations now to be described are performed simultaneously upon thecartons, a succession of individual cartons undergoing the variousoperations at the same time. In these operations the cartons go throughthe opera-- tions illustrated in stages A, B, C and D, in Figs. 9 and11. The carton which has just been transferred from belt 65 to carrier33 is in position for the foot 97 to act upon it. This foot is shown inFigs. 9 and 11 inan intermediate stage of its action and in Figs. 1 and3 as having completed its action. It

' is at the end of a projection 98 from a cross shaft 99 which alsocarries an arm 100 pivotally attached to a lug 102 (see Fig. 3), on theend of a vertical connecting rod 103. The lower end of this rod carriesa roll bearing on cam 104 fixed on the cam shaft 44, so thatperiodically the rod 103 is lifted, causing the foot 97 to swingdownward to the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and-3. This action foldsthe rear flap 105 over the cartons top, and'presses it down thereon. Asthe movement of the projection 98 and foot 97 is circular about theshaft 99 as an axis,

this will catch every flap 105 even though it be bentvt-o a positionrather far back. When the carrier 33 moves the carton for ward fromposition A to position B at, the end of this cycle, the forward flap ofthe carton cover encounters the 'fixed'plate 107 and is therebydepressed, the foot 97 meanwhile remaining at rest. Thus, the flap 105is held down until the flap 106 has been folded far enough over it toinsure both being held down as the carton pro 107 to the-position B ofigs. 1 and9. The plate 107 is formed with a central pro'ecting noseoredge ads. ted toengage, old to closed position an hold there a cartonflap 7 lace and its two side covers exsion 110 of the plate 107 whilethe side flaps are coated with glue and folded over upon the rear andforward flaps.

The mechanism illustrated for distributing the glue is as follows: Theframe 80 carries brackets 113 (Figs. 1, 4 and 3), having bearings at 115for the main glue roll 11 This roll may be of any suitable constructionand driven by any convenient method, as by a pulley 118, so that itrevolves in a glue pan 119, supported removably at 120. It is importantto regulate the quantity of glue delivered to the coating rolls inorder, on the one hand to prevent the smearing of the cartons andsurrounding parts of the machine, and on the other hand to avoid failureof the seal because too little glue has been applied. To meet thissituation a scraper or regulating plate 121 (Fig. 10) is hung on arocker bar 122 having bearings in the brackets 113 and is adjustablewith respect to the roll 117 by means of springs 123, 124. The former,123,

, project over the scraper from a cross bar 125 and oppose its tiltingupward away from the glue roll. Adjusting screws 126 tapped into thisbar bear downward against arms 127 which project toward it from rockerbar 122 on the side opposite the scraper. Consequently, by ad usting thescrews 126, down on arms 127, the scraper is swung upward away from theglue roll,

being held yieldingly by springs 123 in so doing and also the springs124 which project from the scraper under and against a part of the glueroll shaft are pressed upwardagainst that shaft. The action of thisscraper leads to a uniform distribution of glue across the face of theroll; and its adjustment controls the amount which will be delivered tothe coating rolls 111. The bearing of the spring arms 123 under the glueroll shaft gives a fixed base or point of departure for the adjustmentof the scraper 121 holding it in proper relation to the glue" roll. Therolls 111 for coating the carton flaps are adjustable in positiontransversely of the machine on a shaft which has bearings in a sub-frame131 mounted by trunmam nions 132 on the brackets 113, and are drivenfrom the glue roll shaft by gears 134, 135, the latter of which has apulley face adjoining its toothed face and carries belt 137 that drivesa pulley 138 on the shaft ed to receive a horizontal pin on which'thetopend of'the vertical connecting; rod 144 is pivoted. This rod isextensible lengthwise, at top and bottom as indicated at 145, thusaffording means to ad ust the travel of the frame carrying the coatingrolls,-as it swings about trunnions 132. The lower end of thisconnecting rod is pivoted at 147 to alever 148 extending across themachine (Fig. 4), fulcrumed at 149 on a bracket 1500f the main frame,the other. end of'this lever having a roll 151 where it bears on cam153' on cam shaft'44. The cam 153, acting through its connections,swings the coating.

rolls 111 up to the surface of glue roll 117 and then returns them tosuch a position that they transfer the glue thus spread on them to theside flaps 108,109, of the carton when these flaps pass from. position Bto position 0. Small lateral shafts 154 (Fig. 4), running transverselyand arranged one on each side of the machine, in arms 156 from thebrackets 113, are capable of adjustment in the longitudinal direction ofthe machine in slots 160 (Fig. 3) in these arms. These shafts carry aseries of separated small rolls 161' (Fig. 4)", which are preferably inthe natureof a series of disks, to reduce the danger of smearingtheglue. These are idlers revolved by contact, of the under surfaces ofthe flaps 108, 109, and

holding the flaps firmly up against the coat,-.

ing rolls.

After passing the coatmg' rolls the forward edges of the'carton flaps108, 109,

strike the curved plates 162 which are fast on upper guide rails 164which are provided to'perform a function somewhat like the lower guiderails 76, holding the-top portion of the carton firmly against lateraldisplacement. These plates 162 are so shaped as to bend the carton-flapsupward to the vertical position indicated at position C. The glue herehas a brief period for soaking into the flaps, or becoming tempered,while the carton is at rest and then as the carton moves forward to theposition D the flaps are bent together and'are sealed by mechanism shownmost specifically t in Figs. 5 and "7; This mechanism is carried \onbrackets 166, which depend from the u per frame on each side of the lineof travel ofthe cartons, and'comprises trans-' versel' -operatingrollers and fingers for depressing the flap on one side of thecarton,

holding it down temporarily and depressingv the fiap\ on the other side,and then pressing them bdth to make the glue adhere. Referrmg-.particularly to Fig. 7 the supporting bracket seen at 166 has bearings167 in which a guide rod 169 is slidable endwise, thus moving a carrierframe 170 to and fro. A fixed parallel rod 171'guiding a yoke 172projecting fixedly from 169 insures horizontal stability of the carrierframe 170. The carrier frame has vertically set sleeves 174, from thelower end of which project short rods or stems 17 8' carrying; bearings177 for a roller 179, set horizontally and adapted to travel .over thehorizontal surfaces on angle plates 182 that are riveted or otherwisefastened to the upper guide rails 164, substantially at a level with'thetop of the carton. Withinthe sleeves 17 4 pins 180 (Flg. 5) rise fromstems 178, of'smaller diameter, so that a spring 176 may be strungthereon, pressing the roller bearlngs downward, the springsthemselveshearing at the top against adjusting nuts 181 which may be screwed up ordown inside the-sleeves 174 and through which nuts the pin 180 passeswith a place for a cotter-pin-or other device at the top to prevent theunder parts from dropping out. By adjusting these nuts thev elevation ofthe rollers 179 is varied; while springs 176 allow these rollers somevertical play. In operation the rolls 179 travel transversely across thetop of the carton at the position D, bending down the glue coated flaps108, 109, from their vertical position.. Fingers 183 coiiperate. withthese rollers, being screwed into frame 170 to a distance adjustable bythe screw thread 184 and the check nut thereon, the operative end ofthese fingers being bentidownward to positions'in front of the roll andjust above its operating level. The rolls 179 and fingers are arrangedtoward the middle of the machine, and when they are symmetrically atrest'one is on each angle plate 182, with the fingers between the tworolls, and

'with the guide rods 169 projecting thence toward the sides of themachine. Consequently the upstanding carton flaps 108, 109, may enterbetween these rolls; and when the rolls travel to and fro transverselyof the machine, the work that has been done by that one of them which isreceding is held down by the fin ers 183 which closely follow it. Theedge 0 the carton flap is thus kept in such position that the otherroll, which is then approaching will ride over it. This transversemotion. of the rollers is effectuated by means of bell-cranks 187pivoted on the upper frame 80. The end of one of these bell crank armsis seen in Fig. 7 with the slot 191 in which is engaged a pm roller 192carried by a yoke fast to rod 169, and sliding crank 187 isconnectedthrough'a rod 196,

adjustable in length, with an arm 2000f av bell crank on the lower frameof the machine, there being a series of holes so that the pivotalconnection 198 may be made to' the bell crank 187 at various distancesfrom the fulcrum of the bell crank, 1n orderto provide a variation inthe throw of the rolls 179,. for action on cartons of differentwidths.The lower bell cranks are pivoted on a bracket projecting from the frame20 at 202 and have their other arms 204 drawn by springs 206 toward theframe 20'; and

the arm 204 which is on the cam shaft side of the machine has a roller208 operated by cam 213 on cam shaft 44. The bell crank arm 204 on theother side of the machine is connected by rod 211 with a roller 212which bears on the adjacent cam 209, this connecting rod being supportedby a l1nk215 pivoted at one end to 1t and at ts other end to the frame.The cams 209, 213, are set so as to give reciprocating motion to therolls 179, one roll succeeding the other over the carton flaps. Afterthis, and while the carton is still in the position D, the foot 217swings down to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, where itpresses on the closed top of the carton, thus holding'the carton flaps108, 109, firmly until the carton moves forward to the next stage. Asslight var1ations occur in the height of cartons which are nominally ofequal height, this foot 217 is made somewhat yielding; onesuitableconstruction being shown in Fig. 5 in which the foot consists ofa thin strip of metal attached to one end 219 of a lever fixed to afulcrum shaft 220 havingbearings in the frame80. The foot 217 is of suchsha e that as the lever moves through its are 0 travel the under surfaceof the foot tends to press on the full length of the top of the cartonfrom front to back, thus avoiding sliding over thetop. The other arm ofthe lever is marked 221 and is located at the side of the machinewhereit isfixed to the shaft 220. It is operated by a rod 223 connectedto it at 222, whose other end is pivoted at 22 1 (Figs. 2 and 3) to acentral portion of a lever 225, one of whose ends is pivoted at 226 onframe 20 and the other of whose ends car.- ries roll 228 operated by cam229 and spring 231, which being'fastened to the frame 20 opposes theaction of the cam. This cam, therefore, turnsthe foot 217 downward topress" the carton, and the spring lifts it to its inactive position.While the foot is still *flexible sealing press 95.

carrier 33 moves the carton forward another stage to a position in frontof the unloading pusher 96, Figs. 2, 13, which is so timed as to pushthe carton immediately from the carrier 33 and to the receiving table94., where it enters under the first unit of the The flexible press isillustrated in detail in Figs. 5, 6 and 8. It is composed of thesupporting table '94 and a series of pressure units, coiiperating withit and sustained by the upper frame 80, to press the cartons down uponthe table 94. Each unit as illustrated consists of a weight 95 whoseunder side .is grooved or recessed to receive rolls. 95 adapted'to turnon pintles 95 which have bearings in the end portions of the weight 95as seen in Figs. 1 and 5. Each unit contains several of these rolls.95". As represented in the drawing there are four in each unit andthese are just suflicient to cover the top of the carton 10. In theaction of this part of the apparatus it is preferable that the throw ofthe pusher 96 be just enough to move the carton from one unit to thenext, so that at each pause in'the movement, each carton is under one ofthe weights 95. When no carton is present these weights, as seen clearlyin Fig. 5, rest on lips on the frame 232, being thus suspended abovetable 94: at the level of the upper mechanism of the machine when nocarton happens to be present. They are, however, free to move upward fora short distance whenever a carton is pushed under them. This is shownmost plainly in Fig. 8 where the cartons 10 are to. be considered asbeing all of nominally the same height, but in fact difi'ering a little.Nevertheless owing to this feature of the invention the carton at Ereceives as much pressure as do F and G; and the longer ones receive nomore pressure than the shorter. As the cartons are pushed along, theunits adjust themselves upon the carton tops according to the elevationof the top. Each carton moved by the pusher 96 pushes each of those inline ahead of it under the next unit of the flexible press. Thus thesealed tops of the cartons are kept continuously under pressure for aconsiderable time after being sealed; and this pressure is uniformregardless of variations in their actual height, and is automaticallyadjusted according to the height, and continues for some length of time,dependin on the length of series 95 and the speed 0 the machine. To makethe machine of more universal adaptability to sizes of cartons differingin width, the weight units 95 may .be made narrower. To adapt it tocartons of considerably different height provision is made for changingthe elevation of the frame 232, similar to-the bell crank 83 mechanismalready described for the main upper frame 80. This is clearly seen inFlg. 2.

Lttttt "where 233 is a shaft to which a crank may be attached,'turning aworm 234:, thus turn ing. a gear 235 on shaft 236 by which the bellcranks 237 may be adjusted. These are connected to each other by theshafts 236 and the horizontal rods 238, and carry the frame 232suspended by links 240.

While the press mechanism thus described is shown as an integral part ofthe machine, supported by brace 242, it may be desirable for somepurposes to make this a separate table, removable from the rest of themachine; and it will be apparent that this can readily be done, enablinga difi'erent pressto be substituted. j

It will be noted that the cartons are spacedapart while passing throughthe closing and sealing mechanisms, and that the carriers 33 are spacedcorrespondingly in order to hold them thus; but that in going throughthe continuous press the cartons are condensed. This condensationpermits the continuous pressing to be applied to each carton in muchless space than would otherwise be required, and it is attained conveniently by arranging the line of cartons that are being pressed at anangle to the line of cartons going through the folding and sealingmechanisms. Thus the cartons are subjected progressively to constantpressure while the glue is setting without the disturbances that wouldaccompany their traveling on the carrier, and with other advantages.

By reason of its worm and gear control, no amount of pressure on theupper frame is effective to move it, either upward or downward, theadjustment of the bell cranks being possible only from the worm end andnot from the reverse end.

While the preferred form of the machine embodying theinvention has beenillustrated and is adjustable in many respects to suit differentrequirements of work, it will be obvious that many variations may bemade of the specific mechanism illustrated without departing from thescope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a frame and a series of mechanisms held therebyfor operating on carton tops; a carrier operating horizontally undersaid mechanisms, cooperating therewith, and adapted to convey cartons tothem in succession; and means to fix the frame at various elevationsabove the carrier; with extensible power transmitting rods connectingthe mechanism of the carrier with that of said frame. 4

2. The combination of two frames one over the other; means to vary theirdistances apart; a carrier for cartons on the lower frame; a series ofmechanisms on the upper frame operating on the tops of such cartons; andside rails fixed on the upper rier; guides on the one frame 3. Thecombination of two frames one over the other; means to vary theirdistances apart; a owner for cartons on the lower frame; a series ofmechanisms on the upper frame operating on the tops of such cartons; andfixed side rails, variable in position on the upper frame, beside thepath of cartons, whereby the tops of the moving cartons are closelyconfined laterally, and means whereby the height of an individualcarrier may be varied to approximate in elevation the varlous positionsof the, mechanisms on the upper frame, whereby the tops of the cartonsare propelled through said mechanisms by force applied substantiallyhorizontally. 4E. The combination of mechanisms for operatmg on cartons;a carrier cooperating therewith; separate frames supporting respectlvelysaid mechanisms and said carprojecting perpendicularly to the line ofsaid carrier and engaging the other frame; and bell cranks pivoted at afixed distance from the carrier; links connecting one arm of, each bellcrank with the frame supporting said mechanisms; and links joiningtogether the remaining arms of the several bell cranks, whereby all workin unison to vary the distance of said frames apart.

5. The combination of mechanisms for operating on cartons: a carriercooperating therewith; separate. frames supporting re spectively saidmechanisms and said carrier; bell cranks pivoted at a fixed distancefrom the" carrier; links connecting one arm of each bell crank with theframe supporting said mechanisms; links joining together the remainingarms of the several bell cranks, whereby all work in unison to vary thedistance of said frames apart; and irreversible gearing controlling theturning of thebell cranks.

6. The combination of mechanisms for operating on cartons; a carriercooperating therewith; separate frames supporting respectively saidmechanisms and said carrier; bell cranks pivoted at a fixed distancefrom the carrier; linksconnecting one arm of each bell crank with theframe supporting'said mechanisms; links joining together the remainingarms of the several bell cranks, whereby all work in unison to vary thedistance of said frames apart; a gear attached to one of the bellcranks, and a wormactuating said gear, whereby the cranks ingrespectively said mechanisms and said carrier; standards on the oneframe projecting in a direction perpendlcular to the line of saidcarrier through eye-holes on the other frame; hangers on the tops ofsaid standards supporting said other frame;

and means to elevate and depress said hangers simultaneously anduniformly, to fix the operating osition of said mechanisms at differentistances from said carr1er.

8. In combination, two frames one, over the other; acarrier for cartonson the lower frame, operating horizontally; mechanisms on the upperframe operating on the tops of cartons so carried; standards r1s1nvertically from the lower frame; an bell cranks, supported on thestandards and linked to each other and to sa1d upper frame, whereby theelevation of sa1d mechanisms may be shifted without chang ng theirrelation of parallelism to the carrler.

9. In combination, mechanism for operating on cartons; a carrier forcartons, cooperating therewith;'separate frames supporting respectivelysa1d mechamsms and said carrier, and means to vary the dlstance betweenthe two frames; extensible recipro cating rods, operating saidmechanisms; and means on the carrier frame for drlvlng the c'arr'ierandreciprocating said rods.

10. In combination, mechanisms for operating on cartons; a carrier forcartons, 00- operating therewith; separate frames supportingrespectively said mechanisms and said carrier, the one being mountedmovably on the other and adjustable to different distances therefrom;mechanism on the carrier frame for receiving power and operating thecarrier; a cam shaft on the same frame, and extensible rods transmittingpower therefrom to the mechanisms on the other frame.

11. A flexible press for cartons comprising means adapted to support aline of cartons, combined with a flexible pressure element extendingabove and substantially parallel with said means, said pressure elementcomprising a series of relatively small rollers arranged side by sideand adapted, in-

dependently of each other, to ride over the tops of the cartons, and aseries of removable weights restmg on sand rollers; each weight beingadapted to rest upon a number of the said rollers corresponding to thelength of a carton, whereby the said element is flexible in sectionswhich may be varied for cartons of different length by' tivelysupporting the cartons, the mechanisms for operating thereon, and theupper member of the press; means for adjusting the elevation of saidframe-supporting mechanism with respect to the carton-supporting means;and means separate therefrom for adjusting the elevation of said uppermember of the press.

13. Mechanism for operating on cartons comprising a support for a lineof cartons, combined with a composite pressure member consisting ofindividual weights, adjacent to and independent of each other as toelevation; friction eliminating means, depressed by said weights uponthe assing cartons; and supporting means a ording a minimum elevation tosaid pressure member, said supporting means being itself adjustable inelevationwith respect to the sup port on which the cartons rest.

14. Mechanism for operating on cartons comprising means adapted tosupport a line of cartons, combined with a line of nonrotatable weightsabove said supportin means and means intervening between sai weightsandthe carton tops for eliminating friction, the whole constituting aflexible press, adjacent portions of which are adapted to be spreadapart to different degrees, whereby cartons that are in the line andvary slightly from each other in height may receive uniform pressure;means for pushing said line of cartons through said press in successivestages, the length of said stages and of said adjacent portions of thepress conforming to the length of individual cartons in the line.

15. Mechanism for operating on cartons comprising means adapted tosupport aline of cartons, combined with a flexible pressure elementextending above and substantially parallel to said means, and rollersjournaled on under surfaces of and pressed downward by said element;adjacent portions of said flexible element being adapted independentlyof each other'to press down through the rollers upon the tops ofcartons, whereby cartons simultaneously under the pressure element andvarying slightly from each other in height receive uniform pressure.

16. Mechanism for operating on cartons comprising means adapted tosupport a line of cartons, combined with a line of non-rotatable weightsabove said supporting means and means intervening between said weightsand the carton tops for eliminating friction, the whole constituting aflexible press, ad acent portions of which are adapted to be spreadapart to different degrees, whereby cartons that are in the line andvary slightly from each other in height may receive uniform pressure.

'17. Mechanism for operating on cartons comprising in combination meansfor holdmamas ing a compact file of cartons, a frame above it adjustablein elevation according to the average height of the cartons, amultiplicity of pressure blocks supported by the frame adjacent to eachother and each adapted to be lifted thence independently of the othersby the cartons, and means on each block to distribute its pressure overthe length of the carton lifting it.

18. Mechanism for 0 crating on cartons comprising in combinatlon, atable for supporting the cartons; a frame above it adjustable inelevation according to the average height of the cartons; and amultiplicity of pressure blocks set adjacent to and separate from eachother, carried by the frame, and adapted to bear down on the cartontops, thereby applying uniform pressure to cartons of Varying height;the under surfaces of said blocks comprising rollers, whereby a highercarton following a lower may force a block upward in order to enterunder it.

19. Mechanism for operating on cartons comprising in combination, atable for supporting the cartons; a frame above it, adjustable inelevation according to the average height of the cartons; and amultiplicity of pressure blocks set adjacent to and sepa rate from eachother, carried by the frame, and adapted to bear down on the cartontops, thereby applying uniform pressure to cartons of farying height;said blocks being of a length in the direction of travel correspondingto the length of a carton; and a reciprocating pusher, adapted to forcecartons along under the blocks, and having an effective travel in somoving the cartons corresponding to the same length. 20. Thecombination, in mechanism for closing the ends of cartons, of tworollers, one being adapted to rest on each side of the opposite andupward projecting flaps of the carton, with their axes parallel to saidflaps; and means to oscillate said rollers successively over the cartonend; fingers projecting beyond said rollers at about the level of theirbottoms, whereby the depressed flap is held down by the fingers as theroller retreats.

21. The combination, in carton closing mechanism, of a guideway forcarton tops; platforms beside the way at the average level of carton tos; rollers resting thereon with axes paralle to the way; sald rollersbeing automatically pressed downward; and means to run said rollerssuccessively from their platforms transversely upon the way and backagain, thereby pressing with substantial uniformity cartons of varyingheight.

22. The combination, in mechanism for closin carton ends, of a guidewayclosely confining the carton ends laterall the sides of said guidewaybeing adjustab e laterally to accommodate cartons of different width;oscillating rollers, one on each side of the guideway and adapted totravel transversely across it; and mechanism for moving said rollersincluding bell cranks and links, with means for attaching the links tothe bell cranks with varying leverage, thereby varying the travel ofsaid rollers across said way.

23. In combination, mechanism for closing carton ends; means to move acarton along a path through a fixed position; rollers on opposite sidesof said position, sliding rods supporting them and extending laterallyaway from said position, and bearings therefor; and means to oscillatesaid rods, sliding them endwise in their bearings transversely acrosssaid path to carry said rollers successively over the carton positionand back again, thereby pressing down side carton flaps, one over theother.

24. Mechanism for operating on cartons comprising a carrier for thecartons combined with folding mechanism for their top flaps; a gluereservoir; a roller dipping therein; a scraper having an edge springpressed toward said dipping roller, and a screw restraining it, tocontrol the glue carried on the roller; a distributing roller drivenpositively, with its surface moving in the same direction as the cartonflaps and oppositely to the adjacent distributing roller surface, andmeans to move said distributing roller alternately between a positionclose to the dipping roller and a position for contact with passingcarton flaps.

Signed by me at Jersey City, N. J this tenth day of January, 1913.

EDWARD G. TREMAINE.

Witnesses:

F. M. PRICE, CHAS. HALSTEAD.

